Typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by antibiotic resistance phenotypes.
The identification of new epidemic strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is essential for rapid, effective infection control. We have developed a typing method which uses antibiotic sensitivity patterns to differentiate methicillin-resistant S. aureus and which is faster and more cost-effective than biochemical analysis or bacteriophage typing. Characterisation of phenotypes which are chromosomally-encoded, plasmid- or chromosomally-encoded or exclusively plasmid-mediated has enabled us to separate Australian strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus into 11 classes, representatives of which were indistinguishable by bacteriophage type, or plasmid profile alone. The value of this procedure is thus clearly shown.
Gillespie
M T
MT
Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Lyon
B R
BR
Skurray
R A
RA
D000167:Acriflavine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004996:Ethidium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics
D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D000167:Acriflavine; D004996:Ethidium; D008712:Methicillin